Douglas Lamar Williams, left, and his attorney, Andrew Johnston, are pictured after a federal court appearance on a gun charge in connection to the shooting deaths of Michael Hill-Gentry Jr., 22, and Darren Tyree Hill, 18, in Spartanburg last April.

ALEX C. HICKS JR/alex.hicks@shj.com

From staff reports

Published: Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 7:42 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 7:42 p.m.

A man who local authorities said was justified in killing two people appeared in court Thursday on a federal gun charge.

Douglas Lamar Williams, 30, of Spartanburg has been charged with felon in possession of a gun and ammunition in connection to the shootings of Michael Hill-Gentry Jr., 22, and Darren Tyree Hill, 18.

Williams' attorney, Andrew Johnston, requested a second continuance on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis granted the motion to continue until the next term of court.

Johnston said afterwards that a pretrial hearing is scheduled in February.

"It's a complex legal situation. We've been doing a lot of research on the issues," Johnston said.

The federal gun charge against Williams came four months after he shot cousins Hill-Gentry and Hill on April 7. Hill-Gentry and Hill were attempting to break into an apartment at Lee's Crossing early that morning when Williams acted in self-defense and shot them, according to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said Williams and his girlfriend drove up to their apartment and saw Hill-Gentry and Hill trying to break in through a window. One of the men was armed, and Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said at the time that the gun was "near" the two men when deputies responded to the apartment complex off Powell Mill Road.

According to investigators, Williams got out of the car with his girlfriend's gun and confronted Hill-Gentry and Hill. Both men died from gunshots to the head.

Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette and Wright agreed that Williams was within his rights under South Carolina's Stand Your Ground Law and a related Spartanburg court case. Barnette forwarded the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office for review.

Williams was arrested on the federal charge last August. He was released from jail and is on house arrest while the case is pending.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Lance Crick is prosecuting the case.

Williams was convicted of forgery in 2008, according to his criminal history. Convicted felons are prohibited from possessing or acquired a gun or ammunition by the federal Gun Control Act of 1968.

<p>A man who local authorities said was justified in killing two people appeared in court Thursday on a federal gun charge.</p><p>Douglas Lamar Williams, 30, of Spartanburg has been charged with felon in possession of a gun and ammunition in connection to the shootings of Michael Hill-Gentry Jr., 22, and Darren Tyree Hill, 18.</p><p>Williams' attorney, Andrew Johnston, requested a second continuance on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis granted the motion to continue until the next term of court.</p><p>Johnston said afterwards that a pretrial hearing is scheduled in February.</p><p>"It's a complex legal situation. We've been doing a lot of research on the issues," Johnston said.</p><p>The federal gun charge against Williams came four months after he shot cousins Hill-Gentry and Hill on April 7. Hill-Gentry and Hill were attempting to break into an apartment at Lee's Crossing early that morning when Williams acted in self-defense and shot them, according to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Investigators said Williams and his girlfriend drove up to their apartment and saw Hill-Gentry and Hill trying to break in through a window. One of the men was armed, and Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said at the time that the gun was "near" the two men when deputies responded to the apartment complex off Powell Mill Road.</p><p>According to investigators, Williams got out of the car with his girlfriend's gun and confronted Hill-Gentry and Hill. Both men died from gunshots to the head.</p><p>Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette and Wright agreed that Williams was within his rights under South Carolina's Stand Your Ground Law and a related Spartanburg court case. Barnette forwarded the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office for review.</p><p>Williams was arrested on the federal charge last August. He was released from jail and is on house arrest while the case is pending.</p><p>Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Lance Crick is prosecuting the case.</p><p>Williams was convicted of forgery in 2008, according to his criminal history. Convicted felons are prohibited from possessing or acquired a gun or ammunition by the federal Gun Control Act of 1968.</p>